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Method and apparatus for communicating information between a headend and subscriber over a wide area network

  • US 5,896,382 A
  • Filed: 11/19/1996
  • Issued: 04/20/1999
  • Est. Priority Date: 11/19/1996
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A time division multiple access scheme for transporting data over a network between a headend and a plurality of gateways comprising the steps of:

  • transmitting a first polling signal from a headend to a plurality of gateways during a first downstream time slot, the first polling signal polling a first gateway;

    transmitting a first message from the first gateway to the headend in response to the first polling signal during a first upstream time slot;

    transmitting a first asynchronous transfer signal from the headend to the plurality of gateways during a second downstream time slot, the first asynchronous transfer signal indicating availability for transmission by any available gateway of the plurality of gateways during a second upstream time slot;

    dynamically allocating a third upstream time slot for at least one of an asynchronous transmission or a polled communication;

    transmitting a second polling signal if the third upstream time slot has been allocated to the polled communication from the headend to the plurality of gateways during a third downstream time slot, wherein the second polling signal polls a second gateway, and in response to the second polling signal the second gateway transmits a second message during the third upstream time slot; and

    transmitting a second asynchronous transfer signal if the third upstream time slot has been allocated to the asynchronous transmission from the headend to the plurality of gateways during the third downstream time slot, wherein the second asynchronous transfer signal indicates availability for transmission by any available gateway of the plurality of gateways during the third upstream time slot.

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